Murray defends role in casino wars

Sydney MP Alex Greenwich says media reports on David Murray’s links to the Coalition could lead to the perception that he “was not able to provide independent advice” on competing casino proposals.
Photo: Louise Kennerley

Businessman
David Murray
has strongly defended his position as the chairman of an independent assessment panel that must choose between competing casino proposals from
Crown
Ltd and
Echo Entertainment Group, after questions were raised about his integrity.

“I take my reputation very seriously and reject any suggestions that I’m unable to act independently," Mr Murray, the former chairman of the Future Fund, told
The Australian Financial Review.

Mr Murray said the fund-raiser was an annual event organised by his wife for their local federal member
Joe Hockey
and that he was not involved. Political donations to the NSW Coalition by
Credit Suisse
and
Olbia
, companies to which Mr Murray consults, were decisions for the companies that had nothing to do with him, he said.

“Nearly everybody who works for someone in Australia could find themselves with an employer who makes a political donation," Mr Murray said. “So I don’t see how any of those matters are relevant."

“The important thing is this: if I believed there was any reason why I couldn’t act in the manner that the premier asked me to, I would tell him."

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Mr Greenwich told The Australian Financial Review that the unsolicited proposals process was not transparent.

He questioned whether it was the right forum to decide whether either proposal should proceed.

“The unsolicited proposal process is designed for offering [a proposal] that is so specifically unique that it requires special consideration," he said.

“There are now two proposals for gaming and casinos in the same geographic area, which makes neither of those proposals significantly unique to justify the special powers of an unsolicited process."

Mr Greenwich also said he would “always oppose the expansion of gaming in NSW".

A spokesman for the Mr O’Farrell’s office said he was standing by Mr Murray and the independent panel and pointed to the recent appointment of retired judge
Ken Handley
, QC, to provide probity supervision and advice, as a further strengthening of the process.